English: Caption A sailor onboard HMS York measures out tots of rum (incorrectly issuing the tots, traditionally rum is issued from a fanny and not a bottle as pictured. The tot measure is dipped into the fanny full of Rum, it is then poured into the junior sailors cup, the tot measure is then filled up with rum from the fanny again, the rum in the cup is then poured over the tot measure to ensure it is full then the full tot of rum is poured in to junior sailors cup, the tot measure is then dipped in fresh water with ice and poured in to the junior sailors cup. Senior sailors rum is issued neat) for the ship's company, in preparation for the Royal Navy tradition 'Splice the Mainbrace'. 'Splice the Mainbrace' is an order given aboard naval vessels to issue the crew with a drink, typically a tot of rum. Originally an order for one of the most difficult emergency repair jobs aboard a sailing ship, it became a euphemism for authorised celebratory drinking afterward, and then the name of an order to grant the crew an extra ration of rum or grog. The signal hoist for "Splice the Main Brace" is BRAVO-XRAY. The Main Brace was the largest and heaviest of all the running rigging of sailing vessels, and it's splicing - Particularly when a ship was underway in heavy weather - was one of the most arduous tasks onboard, and on completion, merited the issue of a double ration of rum. Since 1773, it has also been ordered to mark a royal birth, or a visit to a ship by a Monarch, or a victory in battle.